What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While conducting banner towing operations, the pilot of N8576U departed from ekx and attempted to pick up the banner that he was scheduled to tow. After unsuccessfully attempting to hook the banner, the pilot initiated a climb consistent with standard banner tow operations. The pilot stated that at an altitude of 200 to 300 feet AGL and airspeed between 50 and 55 knots, the aircraft suddenly and violently stalled. Upon recovery from the stall, the pilot realized that the engine was not producing power and attempted to perform a forced landing in a field adjacent to the airport. The aircraft was destroyed when it impacted terrain and came to rest in a drainage ditch, but the pilot received only minor injuries.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE CONDUCTING BANNER TOWING OPERATIONS, THE PILOT OF N8576U DEPARTED FROM EKX AND ATTEMPTED TO PICK UP THE BANNER THAT HE WAS SCHEDULED TO TOW. AFTER UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTING TO HOOK THE BANNER, THE PILOT INITIATED A CLIMB CONSISTENT WITH STANDARD BANNER TOW OPERATIONS. THE PILOT STATED THAT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 200 TO 300 FEET AGL AND AIRSPEED BETWEEN 50 AND 55 KNOTS, THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY STALLED. UPON RECOVERY FROM THE STALL, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT PRODUCING POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN AND CAME TO REST IN A DRAINAGE DITCH, BUT THE PILOT RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N8576U · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.